Tuesday, 1 September 2015

People’s livelihood in villages

By; Samuel Mumbere

On
a 5 days home to home visitation, last week from 17th August to 21st
August 2015 Kasese District Local Government, was conducting a survey in
different areas across the district. The survey that covered at least 20 sub
counties, Kasese Municipality and Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town council was more
focused on reproductive health, Child health, people’s awareness about Malaria,
STIs, HIV/AIDS, sanitation and infrastructural development.

Seven
categories of people were interviewed in every village by random sampling. The
categories are; an OVC, a mother on a child 0-11 months, a youth 15-24years, a
woman 15-49 years, a man 15-49 years, a mother of a child 12-23 months and a
mother of a child 24-59 months

Among sub counties in Bukonzo west that were visited are

;

S/N

Sub county

Villages visited

Number of household visited

1

Mpondwe-Lhubiriha TC

River Mpondwe

Kaserengethe

14

2

Isango S/C

Isango I

Rusese A

14

3

Bwera S/C

Nyakimasa

Kisabu II

14

4

Ihandiro S/C

Bubutyo

Ihango

14

5

Karambi S/C

Kyamuhamira

ØKiyinzo

14

6

Kitholhu S/C

ØKisebere

ØBuhuruthi

14

Most
of these areas are mountainous. During my visit to these sub counties, I made
the following key observations

Most
of the villages especially mountainous areas have a health Centre nearby, a
school both government and private with in at least 2km vicinity, have good
marrum access roads nearby and piped water within at least 2Kms of every
village.

It
was also observed that at least more than 70% of the people live in permanent
and semi-permanent houses with at least a well-built pit latrine.

It
was observed that most of the people i.e the youth, men and women know about
HIV/AIDs, STIs and malaria, but are so reluctant on issues of prevention and
cure

It
was observed that there are less cases of mal nutrition in both children and
the old though people do not care much about good feeding.

It
was observed that at least the biggest percentage of the mothers go for
anti-natal care and give birth in health centres.

It
was observed that people careless about personal and hygiene, but are averagely
healthy on their bodies.

It
was also observed that more than 90% of the people take un boiled and un
treated water.

It
was observed that people eat at least 2 meals a day and have a few economic
activities that sustain their livelihood.

According
to the Sub county chief of Karambi Sub county Mrs. Masika Ruth, Most of the
people in Bukonzo west are a little bit better off only that community needed
to be sensitized more to take issues of education and hardworking more serious
because most of the youth are still getting very much engaged in alcoholism,
sexual promiscuity, early marriages, school dropout rates and laziness.

We
therefore need to thank government for the good works and standards of living.
We encourage everyone to take concern on participating in improving people’s livelihood
to the grass root.